1 Noy., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 495 
The type of harvester used is known as the “Ideal” mower, equipped 
with ball and roller bearings and propelled by a gasoline motor which consists 
of a pair of four-cycle gasoline engines of 6-horse power, mounted tandem on 
a large pipe 6 inches in diameter and 5 feet long. The rear of this pipe is 
adapted to be secured to the mower frame the same as an ordinary draft 
tongue, and the front end is supported by a steering wheel. The large pipe 
serves not only as a bed for the motor, but also as a reservoir, in the middle 
part, for the gasoline and as exhaust chambers at its front and rear ends, one 
chamber for each cylinder respectively. 
Then follows a technical description of the machinery. Although the 
driving devices are designed primarily for a mowing machine, it is adapted to 
a variety of purposes. By simply disengaging the cutting apparatus, it may 
be used as a portable agricultural engine for drawing loads about the farm, 
grinding feed, pumping water, sawing wood, or any other purpose for which 
an engine is valuable. 
There is hardly a country in the world where gasoline cannot be obtained, 
and we trust that there will be a great future for machines of the type here 
illustrated. 
A previous notice of this machine stated that one man could cut 80 acres 
a day. 
A Hint about Oil Mills. 
By W. SOUTTER, Inspector of State Farms. 
Among the many industries that have been started in Queensland during 
the past fifteen years it is somewhat surprising that the oil industry has had no 
representation. Surely in a country possessing such variety of soil and climatic 
conditions as does this fair State of ours the oil industry should prove a 
profitable undertaking, for the following reasons :—In the first place there is 
practically an unlimited market for paint oils within the confines of the 
Commonwealth, as there are few countries that use more paint than does 
Australia. This may be accounted for by the Oceanic style of buildings which 
are chiefly of wood. In the second place it has been proved beyond doubt that 
almost every known variety of oil-yielding seed can be produced in Queensland, 
the diversity of climate and soil conditions rendering this possible. = 
Whether the farmer can grow and market the seed at a profit has yet to be 
proved, as hitherto the absence of a local market for them has prevented him 
from testing their value; but I feel assured that almost any of the oil-yielding 
lants will return a larger profit than does wheat-growing, while there need 
He no fresh outlay on the part of the farmer in the way of machinery. While, 
with perhaps the exception of cotton, the actual cost of producing the crop will 
be no more than that of growing either corn, wheat, or potatoes. : 
As is well known, cotton has been grown in the State of Queensland for 
many years with varying success. But the staple only has been all that was 
aimed at; the seed has never been utilised for oil purposes, hence a valuable 
product which could have been profitably turned to account was wasted. 
The sunflower, another oil plant, can be grown as easily as maize, and will 
produce about an equal weight of grain. 
Linseed is a crop which is about on all-fours with wheat or barley, the 
cultivation and handling being practically the same, while the yield will be 
equal to if not greater than that of those cereals. Many of our wheat-growing 
areas are admirably adapted for the cultivation of linseed. The sunflower will 
succeed in any region where maize can be grown. 
Castor.—This plant flourishes in favoured localities along the entire 
seaboard; and although only small attempts have been made to grow it 
on system, the attempts bear out the fact that, under cultivation, the yield of 
seed is increased by systematic planting and pruning. ‘The late Dr. J. 
— 
em Poman 
I 
